PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad:
A HIGH Court judge yesterday, adjourned until December 3 hearing of a case filed by the Royal Bank, seeking to determine which faction of the ruling United National Congress (UNC) controls the bank account.
The bank had frozen the account following attempts by members of the two divisions of the UNC, one led by Prime Minister and party chief Basdeo Panday, and the other headed by Deputy UNC Leader, Ramesh Maharaj, to withdraw funds ahead of the December. 10 general election.
Justice David Myers said that neither faction would be entitled to use the TT$2 million (about US$317,400) in the Royal Bank account until his ruling. Attorneys for the Panday faction admitted in court that they had filed no affidavit in response to the bank's decision to freeze the account.
Sonny Maharaj told the court he felt that the matter would have been resolved before the election - hence no affidavit was filed.
The judge gave the lawyers until Nov. 29 to file the affidavit and adjourned the case to Dec. 3.
The UNC had been split down the middle by a bitter feud between Panday and Maharaj. Each faction has been trying to control the UNC's finances and to carry the UNC name and symbols into the election.
However, Maharaj, recently sacked by Panday as Attorney General, lost all bids to lead the ruling party into next month's general elections.
First, he failed in his bid to stop the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) from accepting a list of candidates contesting the elections under the United National Congress banner and rising sun symbol from political leader Panday. Maharaj also lost two consecutive court battles to have the position overturned.
With nomination day on Monday, Maharaj appeared to have abandoned plans to take further legal action, at least for the time being.
Maharaj's spokesman, Sieudath Persad, said a slate of candidates led by Maharaj will contest the elections under another party and symbol.
A statement said Maharaj will defend his Couva South seat while Trevor Sudama, who was sacked as Food Production Minister, will contest the Oropouche seat and Ralph Maraj, who resigned as Information Technology Minister, will defend his seat in Naparima.
Elections were called just ten months after the UNC retained power when the three withdrew their support from Prime minister Panday and formed a short-lived accommodation with the Opposition People's National Movement (PNM).
